If you’re anything like me, it can be overwhelming thinking about how your everyday actions affect the environment. Sometimes I feel really great about the decisions I make because I know they’re contributing to a greener world; however, this isn’t always the case. When life gets stressful in college, I have the tendency to want to prioritize convenience, regardless of the environmental impact. Living a greener life doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Here are a few examples of ways you can effortlessly live a greener life, even with a busy schedule:Â
- Carry a reusable water bottle. Single-use, plastic water bottles are one of the largest sources of plastic use around the planet, with only an average of 27% being recycled annually. [4] A simple way to combat this problem is by carrying a reusable water bottle and using water bottle filling stations around campus. Â
- Buy used textbooks. Purchasing required textbooks not only has an impact on your wallet but also on the climate. 14% of deforestation is attributed to the demand for paper goods such as books. [6] Furthermore, paper production requires substantial amounts of water, energy, and chemicals. [7] Just by buying used textbooks or finding the textbook online, you can make a positive difference when it comes to conservation (and you can save money while doing it!). Â
When life gets overwhelming, it may be hard to think about your impact on the environment. Living a greener life doesn’t have to be stressful, but implementing these four tips will effortlessly improve your environmental impact. Â
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ReferencesÂ
- Colón, J., MartÃnez-Blanco, J., Gabarrell, X., Artola, A., Sánchez, A., Rieradevall, J., & Font, X. (2010). Environmental assessment of home composting. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 54(11), 893–904. 10.1016/J.RESCONREC.2010.01.008Â
- Ibid.Â
- Ibid.Â
- Bethurem, M., Choate, B., & Bramwell, S. (2021). Stop Piling on: Assessing Efforts to Reduce Single-Use Water Bottles at Allegheny College. Sustainability, 13(16), 8864. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168864Â Â
- Leal Filho, W., Ellams, D., Han, S., Tyler, D., Boiten, V. J., Paço, A., Moora, H., & Balogun, A.-L. (2019). A review of the socio-economic advantages of textile recycling. Journal of Cleaner Production, 218, 10–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.210Â
- Towler, B. (2022, May 31). E-readers vs books: Which are better for the environment? CW. Commercial Waste. https://commercialwaste.trade/e-readers-vs-books-better-environment/Â Â